Tuesday, Jul 28, 2026 21:45 [IST]
Last Update: Monday, Jul 27, 2026 16:09 [IST]
DARJEELING,: The demand for Gorkhaland took centre stage on Monday as political and apolitical organisations across the Darjeeling Hills observed SaheedDiwas, renewing their call for Statehood while paying tribute to the martyrs of the Gorkhaland movement.
SaheedDiwas is observed every year on July 27 to commemorate the 13 people who lost their lives during a clash between Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) supporters and police at Engine Dara, 9th Mile, Kalimpong, during protests against the 1950 Indo-Nepal Treaty in the mid-1980s. The day also honours around 1,200 people who are officially said to have died during the GNLF-led Gorkhaland agitation, as well as those who lost their lives during the GorkhaJanmuktiMorcha-led movement from 2007 onwards.
At Chowk Bazaar, the youth wing of the Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxists (CPRM) put up posters demanding Gorkhaland, maintaining that the aspirations of the martyrs could only be fulfilled through Statehood.
CPRM leader ArunGhatani said there were attempts to offer alternative political arrangements for the region, but stressed that the focus should remain on the demand for Gorkhaland, which he described as the dream of the martyrs. He also urged the BJP to honour its commitment on the issue.
The BharatiyaGorkhaPrajatantrikMorcha (BGPM) observed SaheedDiwas by paying homage at the SaheedBedi at GorkhaRangaManch.
Addressing a similar programme in Kurseong, BGPM president AnitThapa said that while political parties may have different ideologies, the aspirations of the martyrs remain the same. He expressed confidence that the movement for Gorkhaland had entered a decisive phase and called for unity among the people.
“Everyone felt that the GTA was an obstacle for Gorkhaland which Isacrificed. Now the struggle will be there for Gorkhaland which willbe my last one. The wait has been too long, and I am working for allto be united. I will visit each constituency and our cadres are awareagain of the struggle for Gorkhaland,” he said that they would makethe dreams of the martyrs come true.
The BharatiyaGorkhaParisangh (BGP), an apolitical organisation, also organised a programme at Ladenla Road in support of the Statehood demand.
BGP leader Pasang Sherpa said the organisation observed SaheedDiwas in different parts of the country by urging people to light lamps in memory of the martyrs. He appealed to all political parties in the Hills to unite in seeking Gorkhaland as the Permanent Political Solution (PPS) for the region.
The GNLF observed the day at GDNS Ground and other parts of the Hills, besides taking out a rally from the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway station to the venue.
GNLF president Mann Ghisingh said the people deserved an early and constitutionally guaranteed political solution. He said the party had consistently raised the demand for Gorkhaland during its dialogues with the government and hoped that the demand would be addressed.
In a press statement, Ghisingh said the true tribute to the martyrs lay in fulfilling their dream of Gorkhaland, safeguarding the identity of the Gorkha people and ensuring justice.
The Indian GorkhaJanashakti Front (IGJF) also paid homage to the martyrs at Chowrasta, where it organised a blood donation camp. The party leadership also offered khadas at the SaheedBedi at GorkhaRangaManch.
Speaking on the occasion, IGJF leaders said four decades had passed since the Kalimpong martyrs laid down their lives, but the demand for Gorkhaland remained unresolved.
“It has been forty years that our people became saheeds at Kalimpongbut our demand for Gorkhaland has yet not been fulfilled. We feel thatthis is the right time now with the BJP government there in Bengalalso. The earlier governments in Bengal were against Gorkhaland butnow we feel with the same government in the State and Centre we arehopeful that our demands will be fulfilled.”
The GorkhaJanmuktiMorcha (GJM) also observed SaheedDiwas at its party office in Singamari, where party chiefBimalGurung lit butter lamps in memory of the martyrs and reaffirmed his commitment to continue the struggle for the fulfilment of their aspirations and rights.
